Welding can be an exciting career that involves shaping metals and creating various structures and objects.
What does it take to prepare for this trade? To become a welder in California, it is recommended to have a high school diploma or GED diploma, as many training programs and apprenticeships require it. Enrolling in a welding program can help students learn the fundamentals of welding and gain skills needed for entry-level jobs.
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has a welding school in Southern California that teaches students four major welding processes and provides hands-on training. UTI graduates with a welding diploma have opportunities to pursue welding jobs in California and can potentially find part-time work while still in school.1
Students can learn four major welding processes and get the hands-on training needed to become a welding technician.
Continue reading to learn more! Below, we’ll recommend a game plan on how to pursue a career in welding in California.
3 Steps To Become a Welder in California
1. Get a high school or GED diploma
Becoming a welder in California doesn’t have an exact timeline, especially since welders in California are not required to have a high school diploma to work. However, many welding training programs and apprenticeships require high school diplomas or GED diplomas.
Individuals without diplomas may have a hard time qualifying for many trade programs or job openings in the state, even if they do have great welding potential. That’s because these documents show employers that a candidate has enough critical thinking, reasoning and discipline to follow an organized curriculum.
If you don’t have a high school or GED diploma, that’s an important first step to start a welding journey in California!
Read more: You Can Go Places with a Career in Welding
2. Enroll in a welding program
Welding programs teach students the fundamentals of welding and provide them with the resources and lab time needed to practice these skills. Doing so can help them get used to the types of tasks found in entry-level welding jobs after graduation.
UTI is one of the welding schools in California! Our Welding Technology program is designed to take 9-10 months to complete. That’s less than nine months! Graduates of our California welding programs earn diplomas and learn four types of welding:
- Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
- Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
- Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
- Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)
Read more: How to Become a Certified Welding Inspector
3. Pursue employment
Students at UTI complete welding courses that were developed with the help of Lincoln Electric, a leader in welding technology. Their guidance and expertise help us ensure that students receive training that can help them prepare for post-graduation welding jobs.
A welding diploma can also help our graduates pursue welding in California. This is because trade school credentials indicate that they are well-versed in the fundamentals of welding needed to handle the job’s mandated responsibilities.
UTI students and graduates can also take advantage of our Career Services department dedicated to providing resources and guidance to help them pursue part-time and full-time jobs!
Read more: How to Create Your Welding Resume: Examples and Tips
California Welder Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the estimated annual job openings for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers is over 42,000 in the United States.42 Training to become a welder at UTI can help students prepare for careers in a variety of industries. Most welders start out working in entry-level roles. As with any industry, over time, welders may be able to advance in their career with experience and hard work.77
Some entry-level and advanced roles might include:
Entry-level
- Welder
- Fabrication welder
- Welder fitter
- Wirer
Advanced
- Inspector
- Quality control
- Certified welding inspector
- Welding project manager
Salary
According to the BLS, the median pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the U.S. was $48,940 annually as of May 2023.26 This means half of welders earned more and half earned less. Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area.
Demand
In terms of the demand for welders, the BLS projects that total national employment for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers will exceed 437,000 by 2032.50
Job description
Welders fuse metal parts together to create structures and parts. This can be useful for things like repairing tools, completing construction tasks, manufacturing machinery and much more!
A welder’s main responsibilities typically include the following:
- Join and cut metal parts
- Fill seams, indentations and holes in metal products
- Study sketches, specifications and blueprints
- Calculate dimensions of parts to be welded
- Inspect materials and structures for welding
- Use power supplies and torches
- Maintain welding equipment and machinery
Study Up and Learn How To Become a Welder in California!
Technical training can be valuable for anyone wanting to learn how to become a welder in California! If you’re set on pursuing a welding career in this state, come back here for a refresher on the process.
Universal Technical Institute’s Welding Technology program teaches students the fundamentals of the trade and can help them prepare for a welding career in California. UTI also has relationships with a number of manufacturers! These relationships mean students have access to equipment that mirrors the industry, which can help them prepare for exciting career opportunities after graduation.
Excited to start learning at one of our Universal Technical Institute California campuses? Once you find a location near you, apply to our welding school!
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.